Uganda disqualified from U-20 AFCON, Rwanda qualify

​Uganda have disqualified from the 2017 U-20 AFCON qualifiers for fielding an ineligible player in their clash against Rwanda.
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​Uganda was disqualified for using an ineligible player as they beat Rwanda 2-1 on April 23 in the second leg of the first round to win the tie 3-2, after drawing in the first leg in Kigali 1-1.​

The Rwanda Football Federation protested against the eligibility of four Uganda players; Tumwesigye Frank, Aheebwa James, Lwalirwa Halid and Kizza Martin, as dates of birth on the four player’s passports were different from the ones registered with their clubs in the 2016 CAF Champions League.
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​The CAF revealed that only Aheebwa James has two different dates of birth: 19/5/1998 on the passport, and 27/3/1997 on his CAF licence, while the other three players have the same date of birth

Although the two birth dates are within the age limit for the competition (players must be born after January 1, 1997) the regulations of U20 state:
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​”Each player must possess a passport containing his photo and giving the full particulars on the player’s age (day, month and year of birth). A player who does not have a passport issued by the competent authorities shall not be authorised to participate in the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations. In the case of junior players participating in CAF Inter- Clubs competitions:

(a)- He will not be qualified to participate in the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations if the date of birth indicated in his licence is different from the one indicated on his passport.”
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​”A team which allows a non-qualified or a suspended player to take part in a direct knock-out match shall lose the match and shall be eliminated from the competition, even in the absence of protests.”
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​Uganda were set to face Egypt in the second round. However, the decision means that Uganda will be eliminated from the qualifiers, and Rwanda will advance to the next stage to face the Pharaohs.